These outlets will have scored over 86% to be conferred a 4 Cup Certificate. The outstanding establishments who score between 95% to 100% will be bestowed the coveted 5 Cup Accreditation.

Every assessor is trained to a high standard and works with a standardised questionnaire created by the Beverage Standards Association under the standards applied to the VRQ City & Guilds Course and Best Practice from the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe.

Three separate drinks are assessed for each entry and marked for taste, temperature and presentation. The scores in each drink category will be evaluated and those with the highest scores will be put forward for selection for a final assessment process. The drinks evaluation process accounts for 75% of the total BSA cup accreditation.

This is what the Accreditation system is all about and the winner will have invested time and effort is raising their own standards. They will have bought into the BSA accreditation process and will have delivered exceptional improvements in all areas.

This will awarded to venues which have performed well in their first year of taking part in the BSA assessment programme, combining excellent service with high standards. The entrants may have been open for ten years or just opened but they must be completely new to our accreditation process.